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Carry On, MR. Bowditch
I read this classic aloud to my children. It was the winner of the 1956 Newbery Medal.Carry On, Mr. Bowditch is the historical fiction novel that is based on the real Nathaniel Bowditch, an amazing mathematician whose brilliance changed the nautical world. Although he dreamed of pursuing his academic dreams, his father could barely afford to feed him and arranged for his nine-year apprenticeship as a bookkeeper to Ropes and Hodges, a ship chandlery. Determined to make the most of it, he spent every spare minute with his nose in a book, often long into the night. When he came across a topic that he didn't know, he studied everything about it and then wrote his own books. Some of the books that he wrote were about rope-making, sail production, caulking, and navigation. At the age of 16 years, he wrote an almanac that covered the period of 34 years from 1789 to 1823 and included "the regular things," such as: The sun's rising, setting, declination, and amplitude. He did not think it was a big deal, saying it was "just mathematics." He was brilliant, to say the least.Because all of the great scientific books were written in Latin, he decided to teach himself Latin by using both Latin and English bibles as guides to painstakingly translate word by word. He then translated Isaac Newton's Principia from Latin to English, which was the best book for studying astronomy.A man named Dr. Bentley often visited Nat, presumably because he could see Nat's genius and offered membership into The Salem Philosophical Library. It was a private library started by a group of men, which housed only the best scientific works. They were so impressed with Nat's intellect that they waived the usual membership fee of 50 pounds. As a member, he would be able to borrow these scientific books for study.When word came that Ropes and Hodges was to be sold, Nat could hardly contain his excitement. He thought that his time had finally come to be free of his apprenticeship so that he could go to Harvard, but his spirit was dampened when he found out that his apprenticeship was transferred to the new owner.After his apprenticeship was completed, Nat was offered a position as a Ship's Clerk aboard a sailing vessel. He took along his books so that he could still study. When he found an error in one of the calculation tables in Moore's Practical Navigator, he became angry and disgusted because sailors depended on the accuracy of those calculations. He took it upon himself to work each mathematical table in Moore's book and found over 8,000 errors!Nat discovered a way to calculate a lunar reading, and he taught all of his shipmates. He felt that they all had the potential to become first mate if only they knew how to navigate! Although the Captain was puzzled as to why Nat would take the effort to do so, he said that never had a crew been less trouble, so he told him to, "Carry on, Mr. Bowditch!" Because not everyone possesses the same academic strengths, he often had to adapt his methods to teach different people. He decided, then, to write his own nautical manual that would: Have the correct calculations so that sailors would not have to rely on Moore's Practical Navigator, define all nautical terms so that even a layperson could learn, and contain logarithmic tables of all the trigonometric functions so that all a sailor would need to navigate would be a knowledge of addition and subtraction.Nat's book, The American Practical Navigator, was first published in 1802. The book has been updated a number of times over the years, but it still is carried on board of every commissioned U.S. Naval vessel!My children and I really enjoyed this book! Nat possesses such persistence and perseverance, two admirable qualities that I want for my own children. Even though he was not formally educated, it did not make him any less intelligent. He was passionate about his studies, and you would have to be to teach oneself different languages and advanced mathematics! There is quite a bit of sadness throughout the book, as a number of people in Nat's life die. It seemed that someone died in nearly every chapter! Still, our spirits were buoyed by Nat's resolve to achieve his goals despite the tragedies that befell him.
Carry On, MR. Bowditch
A little background from wikipedia: "Nathaniel Bowditch (March 26, 1773 - March 16, 1838) was an early American mathematician remembered for his work on ocean navigation. He is often credited as the founder of modern maritime navigation; his book The New American Practical Navigator, first published in 1802, is still carried on board every commissioned U.S. Naval vessel."The book starts out when Nat is six years old, looking to perform a good luck ritual before their family moves. They've had a string of bad luck, and he's hoping the move will change things.It doesn't. Nat has to leave school at age 10 to help his father's business, and because of his excellent math skills, at age 12 he is indentured for 9 years as an apprentice to be a bookkeeper for a ship chandelry. His dream was to go to Harvard, and being indentured made that impossible. Feeling pretty sorry for himself, on his first day one of the other workers told him, "Only a weakling gives up when he's becalmed! A strong man sails by ash breeze!" (Translation from ship terms - "Only a wealking gives up when the winds aren't blowing! A strong man sails by rowing!")That simple statement changes Nat's perspective. He no longer waits for good luck. He studies to educate himself, then teaches others.I enjoyed reading it alone, but it's definitely on my list to read with my children.
Carry On, MR. Bowditch
Not only is this Newberry award winner based on the life of a real man, Nathaniel Bowditch, but it is also very interesting and exciting to read. Taking only moments for you to become totally engrossed, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch places you directly in this gifted mathematician/astronomer's life during the early 1800s. Complete immersion in this epic story makes you hardly want to set the book down until you have finished reading it.Carry On, Mr. Bowditch is quite a refreshing book, which describes life at sea in fantastic detail and realistic fervor. Set with strong emotion and rich character development, this information-filled book is not overly long, and can be read through rather quickly.Throughout the story, Nathaniel remains true to his morals, and not only does he save many lives, but he also achieves a meaningful life and a wonderful family of his own. If it is adventure, intrigue, and impact you desire, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch is the right book for you.
Carry On, MR. Bowditch
My brothers and I read this book for our literature class, hearing it was a good and famous book but never having read it before. It was better than I had anticipated, especially considering it came from the point of view of a character whose true loves were mathematics and the sea, neither of which I share with Mr. Bowditch. Even still, Nat's story is a compelling one, filled with the hopes and dreams of a boy as he becomes a man. Nat Bowditch goes through many trials as he tries to find his purpose in life. It's the story of a brilliant boy in a young free America who, coming from a poor family background, was not able to finish his education or go to a college. He is instead indentured as a young man, and later goes off to sea, but the sea is where he shows his true potential. Teaching the once considered inept sailors how to navigate using what he calls, "a matter of simple mathematics" he changes the world of navigation forever. Time and time again Nat is tested and tried by circumstances that seem to want to hold him back, but time and time again Nat holds true making this book a great example of perseverance. I recommend this book to any who want to learn more about navigation, perseverance, or are just looking for a good read. -L. West
Carry On, MR. Bowditch
I remember reading this book as a child; first, being forced to read it for a book report and then finding I could not wait to turn the page! None of the reviews I have read mentioned the ending, guess they didn't want to give away the best part of the book! I have just ordered it for my 9 year old daughter, I hope she enjoys it as much as I did, but, after I read it again first!
Carry On, MR. Bowditch
This book is called Carry on Mr Bowditch it is about a boy named nat who wants to go to harvard for collage.but his father wants him to go to boating school so he would be a sailer.In the begining of the book Nat's father got hot by a reaf that was in the water .then the boat sank.In this story Nat wrote a book about the skill of navagation.Nat makes a voyage but somehting happend ,amd if you read this book you will find out what will happen and if you read this book you will find out.I recamend this book for peple who like the sea and adventure